The week ahead in the European Parliament: #Security, #counter-terrorism, #climate change

The European Parliament is in its second week back after the summer recess. Committees will look into counter-terrorism, security, climate change and environmental liability. The political groups will discuss preparations for the next plenary session in Strasbourg and the Commission’s work programme for 2018.

Counter-terrorism. Counter-terrorism and the need to improve the exchange of information among member states will be discussed by MEPs on the Civil Liberties Committee with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, responsible for migration, home affairs and citizenship, and Krum Garkov, president of the eu-LISA (agency responsible for managing IT systems in the area of security and justice, such as the Schengen and asylum-seekers databases). (Monday)

Security. An assessment of current threats will be made by the Civil Liberties Committee with Security Union Commissioner Sir Julian King. The debate, which will also focus on challenges ahead in the security field, is followed by a press conference with the commissioner and Committee Chair Claude Moraes. (Thursday)

Climate Change/COP23. Environment Committee MEPs will vote on their contribution to the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP23), to be held in Bonn in November this year. The conference will focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, in force since November 2016, as work remains to be done, in particular on climate finance and national contributions. A delegation of MEPs will attend the talks. (Thursday)

Environmental liability. The Legal Affairs Committee will look into the effectiveness of EU rules on the prevention and repairing of environmental damage, based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle. Members will also propose improvements to the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD), incorporated into national law in the member states in 2010. (Thursday)

Commission Work Programme 2018. EP President Tajani and political groups’ leaders (EP Conference of Presidents) will discuss with Commission President Juncker and First Vice-President Timmermans next year’s work priorities. (Thursday)

Plenary preparations. Political groups will set their political priorities in the run-up to the 2017 “State of the Union” debate with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, scheduled on Wednesday morning, 13 September. To prepare for the 11-14 September plenary session, they will debate fire safety in buildings, the promotion of internet connectivity in local communities, the security of gas supply, arms exports, prison systems in Europe, next steps for completing the Capital Markets Union, the impact of EU trade policy and EU-Latin America relations.

President's agenda. EP President Antonio Tajani will be in Norcia (Italy) on Monday to participate in a Citizen's dialogue on "Building a better Europe with citizens for future generations" with Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Commissioner Tibor Navracsics. He will hold a press conference with Commissioner Navracsics and visit some European Solidarity Corps' projects, on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, President Tajani will meet Cyprus’ House of Representatives President Demetris Syllouris in Brussels, followed by a press point. He will participate in the 15th G7 Parliaments' Presidents’ meeting in Rome on Friday, and attend the official lunch for G7 speakers with Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, in Naples on Saturday. Finally, Mr Tajani will be in Münster on Sunday to join a conference organised by Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic organisation active in different fields including peace mediation, together with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou.

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